[Reproductive Biology] Somatic cells raise sperm barriers
Sperm release is a potential target for contraception. Using time-lapse studies of sperm release from Drosophila testes ex vivo, Dubey et al. found that spermatid – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 19, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Sarah E. Harrison Tags: Reproductive Biology Source Type: research
[Machine Learning] A quantum leap for machine learning
Machine learning is a field of artificial intelligence in which a set of algorithms and training sets can teach a computer to learn and then to independently perform a particular set – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 13, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Kristen Mueller Tags: Machine Learning Source Type: research
[Structural Biology] Dynamics of a protein knot
A small fraction of proteins have an unusual conformation in which the backbone forms a knot. An example is a bacterial enzyme, TrmD, that transfers a methyl group from S-adenosyl – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 13, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Kristen Mueller Tags: Structural Biology Source Type: research
[Carbon Footprint] Mapping the impact of nations
The consumption and production of goods have a much wider impact than simply on the country or region where they are used or made. For example, the carbon footprint of global supply – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 13, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Kristen Mueller Tags: Carbon Footprint Source Type: research
[Materials Science] Push both ways to avoid a jam
When subject to shear flow, dense solutions of particles can jam together, dramatically increasing their viscosity. This can be helpful, such as in traction control systems, or it can – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 13, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Kristen Mueller Tags: Materials Science Source Type: research
[Autism Genomics] Mosaic mutations in autism
Spontaneously arising de novo mutations are likely important contributors to the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in affected individuals. Genetic mutation is an ongoing – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 13, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Kristen Mueller Tags: Autism Genomics Source Type: research
[Brain Research] Encoding false memories
A unique human ability is the use of concepts that confer meaning in an abstract way. Despite the importance of conceptual knowledge for human cognition, scientists know little about – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 13, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Kristen Mueller Tags: Brain Research Source Type: research
[Cell Division] Crossing over to let go
Eukaryotic cells package their genomes into chromosomes, and when they divide, they deliver a complete set of chromosomes to each daughter cell. During meiosis (the cell division that – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 12, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Kristen Mueller Tags: Cell Division Source Type: research
[Superconductivity] Combining transport and photoemission
Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is routinely used to map the electronic structure of complex materials. Most commonly when studying a phase transition, the spectra – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 6, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Jelena Stajic Tags: Superconductivity Source Type: research
[Ocean Climate] Clouds and Atlantic Ocean temperatures
The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), which is characterized by quasi-periodic variations in sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic, has important effects on the – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 6, 2016 Category: Science Authors: H. Jesse Smith Tags: Ocean Climate Source Type: research
[Diversity] Instructor gender versus student ratings
Despite evidence suggesting that student evaluations of teaching are unreliable, they are often included in promotion and tenure criteria. How unreliable are student evaluations with – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 6, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Melissa McCartney Tags: Diversity Source Type: research
[Neurodevelopment] Modular brain construction
The mammalian cerebellum looks complex on the surface, with a stereotypical pattern of lobules and fissures. Although its subregions all seem to use similar types of cells, tracts coming – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 6, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Pamela J. Hines Tags: Neurodevelopment Source Type: research
[Neuroimmunology] Autoimmunity in narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by sleep that can strike at any time, lasting from seconds to minutes. Most narcoleptics experience loss of muscle tone (cataplexy) – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 6, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Lisa D. Chong Tags: Neuroimmunology Source Type: research
[Psychology] Learning physics through vectors
Long before they first learn about Newtonian mechanics, children develop an understanding of how objects interact. They learn that taller objects can hide shorter objects (visual occlusion) – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 6, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Gilbert Chin Tags: Psychology Source Type: research
[Invasive Species] The problem with our predators
In our modern world, in which people move themselves and their goods across the entire globe, species invasions have become commonplace. Such invasions have varying degrees of impacts, – [Read More] (Source: Editors' Choice)
Source: Editors' Choice - October 5, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Sacha Vignieri Tags: Invasive Species Source Type: research
